Photos by Ashley Queen

Before midnight, right after Tech N9ne’s suprise set, a guy behind me screamed “I’m loving this shit!!!” I don’t know if he was drunk or not, but I can’t blame him for not being able to contain himself. In a matter of 2 hours, fans were treated to surprise performances by Nas, Damien Marley, Raekwon, Murs,  Supernatural and Psycho Realm with a suprise appearance from B-Real and Fatlip on the tables. These artists along with Common, Reflection Eternnal, Big Boi, The Roots, RZA and Slum Village (T3, Elzhi, AND Baatin!) will be gracing the stage at this year’s Rock The Bells Festival. This year’s tour will kick off on June 27 and run on consecutive weekends in 10 cities (Toronto, Washington D.C., Boston, New York, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Vancouver) through August 9. The inauguration at the Key Club Sunset set the bar and expections high for what to expect this year. All present talent agreed that they are looking forward to sharing the stage with each other this summer. “Its a blessing to share the stage with these brothers,” Supernatural shared. Everyone will be practicing their own rituals in order to bring the heat on stage. Murs confided that he wears the same Vans and hoodie all tour, Sick Jacken of Psycho Realm only needs a bottle of whiskey and clean underwear to keep him happy and Raekwon just smokes a blunt and is “good to go.” From the energy & anticipation generated from the performances and press conference this summer is going to get a lot hotter with Rock the Bells. Relive the experience when you

Photos by Ashley Queen

Common blazed the stage in Universal City at Hard Rock Cafe for  Musicology 101 to Benefit VH1 Save The Music Foundation (presented by Windows.) Fans were treated to Biz Markie on the 1s and 2s as well as a taste of Common’s clothing line collaboration with Windows.  I picked this one. The Hard Rock Cafe was packed from top to bottom with music who came together for good music and the general good of music.  More photos from this event when you…

Click here for more info and to get tickets.

Ludacris-Theater of the Mind
Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam
Rating: 3 out of 4
By Preach Jacobs

Not many artists have the duality of Ludacris in hip-hop. The ability to have commercial appeal while being aware of the roots for so-called backpackers, Luda has the potential to impress both. At times he swayed more towards commercial acclaim, but there’s brilliant moments on his newest release “Theater of the Mind” that proves that he does in fact keeps his ears to the street.

“MVP,” the DJ Premier produced track, is arguably the best record on the album. Claiming that he’s “the first southern-rapper on a Primo track,” ‘Cris conquers the track with ease (even though Scarface and Devin the Dude have blessed Premier songs prior to the ‘Mouth of the South’). Also, the 9th Wonder produced “Do the Right Thing,” featuring Common and Spike Lee, is the perfect way to end the album. Uplifting and with boom-bap production providing proof that Luda hasn’t lost his roots.

There’s never a doubt that Ludacris was a lyrical heavyweight, just at times his musical backdrops left a little to be desired. Songs like “Southern Gangsta” and “Nasty Girl” are both needed for radio play, but intrude on displaying his capabilities.

“Theater of the Mind” is a solid album, even if times the production isn’t as dope as the rapper. Maybe it’s my personal bias (as being anti-crunk enduced rap) but in these days and times, a commercial artist having both a Premier and 9th Wonder track is a victory beyond belief. What this album proves is that Luda is still one of the dopest lyricists and when he has the right tracks, he’s unstoppable. Is this his classic? No, but with spinkles of genius here and there his classic isn’t too far away.

Words by: Preach Jacobs

There hasn’t been an emcee that has grown in the eyes of the public as much as Common. Since his debut in 1992, Common (formally Common Sense) has transformed into an icon, becoming a poster-child for authentic hip-hop. Now with his eighth album, Common maintains a calm demeanor about his music and other career paths. Acting is his next undertaking. The Chicago emcee has starred in blockbusters like ‘Smoking Aces,’ ‘American Gangster’ and will appear in this summer’s ‘Wanted.” It’s apparent that Common’s focus is shifting but he assures us that music is still in play.

“Right now, I want to do movies more than music. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning on retiring or anything from music; I just feel as an artist I want to challenge myself. Movies are just more exciting to me right now, and I’m having fun doing them.”

Even though film is taking the front seat in his career, he is confident that his new album will offer a side the public hasn’t seen with him before. After Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate” album, featuring the Grammy-Winning “The Light” produced by Jay Dee, I wondered if there was going to be more Dilla production on this new project or any other Dilla related efforts in the making.

“There’s not any Dilla joints on this new album, but God bless him. He’s the best that did it. There’s been ideas going around to have the artists that worked with Dilla put something out, but we’re waiting for the right idea to move forward and help out the family as best we can. We want to find the best thing to introduce him to people who aren’t familiar with him.”

Instead production duties are handled by The Neptunes, will.i.am and Mr. DJ; with his first two singles, the album entitled “Universal Mind Control” is a step away from the crochet-hat wearing wordsmith that the public may know him as. Having associations with groups like The Roots and a highly publicized relationship and break-up with Erykah Badu can make the stigma of a conscious-incense-burning-rapper hard to get away from. Common is aware but pays little attention to the rumors.

“Right after ‘Like Water For Chocolate,’ I told myself I never wanted to repeat the same album. I just do what I feel. If I don’t feel it, I don’t like it. I don’t even use the term neo-soul that everyone puts out there; I just want to make my music. This new album is a real light-hearted album. It’s simple and to the point; I just wanted to have fun with it. I wanted to re-create the feeling of being in a club. It’s crazy because people think that just because you may be considered conscious, that you can’t put out a party record or have fun. It’s like, just because you’re conscious, a brother can’t have a drink? You can still be a human being, do the right thing and still party. That’s something I didn’t really realize until I hung out with people like Assata Shakur. We were hanging out, and I got a chance to freestyle with her. I freestyled with Assata Shakur! You feel me? It was something to see your heroes be human.”

In these days and times, it maybe a good idea to use music to get their minds away from the perils of the financial crisis. Things couldn’t be more surreal. The stock market crashed, the banks and big three car companies are looking for bailouts and there’s a black president. From the beginning, Common supported the fellow Illinois-native Barack Obama and he couldn’t be happier with the outcome. He comments about November 4th 2008. “I was at Grant Park on the 4th. I was in the car listening to his speech on my way to host my own election party. It was amazing to finally see a day like this can come.”

If the country proved that they can put aside racial tension enough to elect a black president, does that type of optimism trickle down into the music? Now, that we have a Commander-in-Chief that speaks about love, discipline and family, can a rapper have the same success with similar content? Family is a concept that is dear to Common. Since his second album his father, better known as Pops, has been featured giving his spoken word lessons to his son throughout the record. This time his father’s presence is absent, something that hasn’t occurred in some time.

“It’s weird that my Pops ain’t on this new album. He’s been on just about every one of them. He’s been such a supporting factor in everything I do. At first he thought I was going to be a ball player until he discovered my gift in music. Ever since then, he’s always been supportive of my art and my dream. His support is something I want to pass on as a parent.”

Somewhere between the 40-guzzling 18-year old we heard on ‘Can I Borrow A Dollar’ til now, an adult has emerged. From underground rapper to the main character in middle-aged black women’s wet dream, Common has balanced acting, music and parenthood with grace, cool and style. This proves that while he was entertaining us for all of these years, he represented the best in our young culture. He proved that in fact, hip-hop is all grown up.

Common-Universal Mind Control
G.O.O.D. Music /Geffen Records
Rating: 3 out of 4
By: Preach Jacobs

There’s something in the water for the alternative-hip-hop artists. Everyone that’s been instrumental in the jazz-inspired-neo-soul movement is running as fast as they can in the opposite direction musically. The Roots’ sound has become more rock inspired, rappers like Mos Def would rather be in front of a camera than rap and D’Angelo hasn’t put out a record in almost nine years. Chicago based emcee Common seems to be no different as his newest project takes him furthest away from his musical comfort zone with ‘UMC’ (Universal Mind Control).

First off, if you’re looking for the incense burning-crochet-wearing Common, you’ll be sadly mistaken as Common is now an aspiring movie star and modern day sex symbol. The music reflects this as the light-hearted approach to songs like “Punch Drunk Love,” “Sex 4 Suga” and “Announcement” sound like they’re backdrops for a party in outer space.

Common’s sound has replaced previous work filled with Rhodes and acoustic bass for techno-inspired synths provided by Pharrell and Kanye West. This album is an absolute party record, simple and plain. There are hints of the old Com on songs like “Gladiator” and the introspective “Changes,” but not enough to satisfy some die-hard fans looking for Common of yesteryear. After hearing this album, it’s becoming clear that this Common will not return. His music has changed because his life has changed, and I’m actually content with hearing music of a happy-artist for a change.

That being said, I to do wish there were more hard-core-boom-bapish type offerings on ‘UMC,’ but Common has a catalogue that can provide that if I wish to hear it. Who said conscious guys can’t go party? Maybe this album is a way to inspire us to all lighten up. Whether we do it or not, it seems Common has beat us to the punch.